Car washing assembly with pressurized water supply

ABSTRACT

A FOUNTAIN TYPE WAND DEFINING A HANDLE AT ONE END AND HAVING A PANEL-LIKE HEAD AT ITS OTHER END OF GREAGER LENGTH THAN WIDTH AND DISPOSED TRANSVERSE TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE WAND. THE HEAD IS MOUNTED ON THE WAND FOR OSCILLATION ABOUT AN AXIS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE WAND AND GENERALLY PARALLELING THE LONGITUDINAL CENTER LINE OF THE HEAD. AN ENDWISE OUTWARDLY OPENING U-SHAPED FRAME IS SUPPORTED FROM THE END OF THE WAND REMOTE FROM THE HANDLE AND THE HEAD IS OSCILLATABLY SUPPORTED BETWEEN THE FREE ENDS OF THE LEGS OF THE U-SHAPED FRAME. A SOFT COVER IS PROVIDED FOR THE HEAD AND IS CONSTRUCTED OF A MATERIAL THROUGH WHICH FLUIDS MAY PASS AND WHICH IS CAPABLE OF RETAINING A GIVEN QUANTITY OF FLUIDS IN THE MANNER OF A SPONGE. THE COVER NOT ONLY COVERS THE HEAD BUT ALSO ONE SIDE OF THE SUPPORTING FRAME AND THE HEAD IS IN THE FORM OF A MANIFOLD TO WHICH CLEANING FLUIDS UNDER PRESSURE MAY BE SUPPLIED AND INCLUDES OUTLET OPENINGS OPENING OUTWARDLY OF THE SIDE OF THE FRAME WHICH IS COVERED BY THE SOFT COVER. FURTHER, THE COVER IS PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING IN REGISTRY WITH THE OUTLET OPENINGS IN THE HEAD WHEREBY WEATER AND OTHER CLEANING FLUIDS MAY BE DISCHARGED FROM THE MANIFOLD IN JET FASHION WITHOUT PASSING THROUGH THE MATERIAL OF THE COVER.

F. E. MAYDEN 3,667,852

CAR WASHING ASSEMBLY WITH PRESSURIZED WATER SUPPLY June 6, 1972 FiledOoc. l, 1970 Fig. 2

Frank E. Mayden United States Patent O 3,667,852 CAR WASHING ASSEMBLYWITH PRESSURIZED WATER SUPPLY Frank E. Mayden, Springfield, lll.,assigner of a fractional part interest to Theresa E. Mayden,Springfield, Ill. Filed Oct. 1, 1970, Ser. No. 77,294 Int. Cl. A41113/23 U.S. Cl. 401-263 4 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A fountaintype wand defining a handle at one end and having a panel-like head atits other end of greater length than width and disposed transverse tothe longitudinal axis of the wand. The head is mounted on the wand foroscillation about an axis extending transversely of the wand andgenerally paralleling the longitudinal center line of the head. -Anendwise outwardly opening U-shaped frame is supported from the end ofthe wand remote from the handle and the head is oscillatably supportedbetween the free ends of the legs of the U-shaped frame. A soft cover isprovided for the head and is constructed of a material through whichfluids may pass and which is capable of retaining a given quantity offluids in the manner of a sponge. The cover not only covers the head butalso one side of the supporting frame and the head is in the form of amanifold to which cleaning fluids under pressure may be supplied andincludes outlet openings opening outwardly of the side of the framewhich is covered by the soft cover. Further, the cover is provided withan opening in registry with the outlet openings in the head wherebywater and other cleaning uids may be discharged from the manifold in jetfashion without passing through the material of the cover.

The car washing assembly of the instant invention has been specificallydesigned to provide a means whereby a car or other vehicles as well asvarious stationary objects may be cleaned with a minimum of effort. Theassembly includes a wand defining a handle at one end and having a headoscillatably supported from its other end from which cleaning fluids maybe discharged in jet fashion and which is covered by means of a softcover having water absorbent properties.

By supporting the head of the assembly from the wand for oscillationrelative to the latter the head, which is generally panel-like inconfiguration, may more readily conform to irregular surfaces over whichthe head is passed by a person holding the handle end of the wand.

The head end of the wand includes means for attaching the outlet end ofa uid supply line to the wand and ducting uids from the supply line tothe interior of the manifold-type head which is provided with outletopenings for jet discharging fluids therefrom.

The handle end of the wand includes valve means whereby the ow of uidsunder pressure to the manifoldtype head may be adjustably controlled andthe cover for the head is secured thereover in removable fashion wherebyit may be removed for cleaning and/or replacement whenever desired.

The main object of this invention is to provide a car washing assemblyof the fountain wand type which may be readily used in washingautomobiles as well as other vehicles and stationary objects.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediatelypreceding object, is to provide a car washing apparatus having ascrubbing head on one end of the wand portion thereof supported from thehead for oscillation about an axis extending transversely of the wand tothereby enable the head to more readily conform to irregular surfacesover which the wand is passed.

3,667,852 Patented June 6, 1972 Yet another object of this invention isto provide a car washing assembly in accordance with the precedingobjects and provided with a removable and replaceable soft waterabsorbent cover enclosing the head thereof whereby various vehiclesurfaces over which the head is moved will be protected againstscratches and will be lightly scrubbed by the car washing apparatus.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a 1rardwashingassembly including a removable oscillatory A final object of thisinvention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a carwashing assembly which will conform to conventional forms ofmanufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to providea device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relativelytrouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the car washing assembly;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of the head end of the carwashing assembly;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially uponthe plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View of the head end of the carwashing assembly with the cover therefor in an exploded position.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generallydesignates the car washing assembly of the instant invention whichcomprises a modification of the pressurized paint supply assembly withextension applicator disclosed in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,376,096.

The assembly 10 includes an elongated lhandle or wand 12 having a handleend 14 and a head end 16.

Secured to the head end 16 as an integral portion thereof is an inletfitting 18 for fluids and the fitting 18 includes an inlet port 20 andan outlet port 22. The inlet end of an extension tube 24 is secured inthe outlet port 22 at one end and includes an outlet fitting 26 on itsopposite end. The extension tube 24 projects endwise outwardly of theend of the fitting 18 remote from the handle end 14 and is secured alongits length to one side of a triangular mounting plate 28 secured at oneof its apices to the inlet Ifitting 18. The base edge of the mountingplate 28 remote from the apex thereof secured to the fitting 18 issecured along its length to the midportion of the bight portion 30 of asupport frame referred to in general by the reference numeral 32. Thesupport frame 32 includes a pair of generally parallel legs 34 whichproject endwise outwardly from the opposite ends away from the bightportion 30 and in a direction away from the handle end 14 of the wand12. The outer free ends of the legs 34 include inwardly directedterminal end portions 36 which comprise stub axle members by which agenerally panel-like elongated head 38 is oscillatably supported betweenthe free ends of the legs 34. The head 38 includes a centerlongitudinally extending manifold outlet pipe 40 provided withlongitudinally spaced liquid jet outlet openings 42 and a pair oflongitudinally extending resiliene elongated bumper members 44 spaced 0nopposite sides of the manifold outlet pipe 40.

The manifold pipe 40 and bumper members 44 project outwardly from oneside of the head 38 and the legs 34 are covered by resilient tubingmembers 46.

The head 38 includes a transverse supply pipe 48 which extendstransversely thereof centrally intermediate its opposite ends and theoutlet end of the supply pipe opens into the center of the outlet pipe40. The inlet end of the supply pipe includes an inlet tting 50 and theoutlet fitting 26 of the extension tube 24 is communicated with theinlet tting 50 of the supply pipe 48 by means of a length of flexibletubing 52 extending and connected between the iittings 26 and 50.

The intersections of the opposite ends of the bight portion 38 with thebase ends of the legs 34 are reinforced by mean of triangular gussetplates 54 and the handle or wand 12 is provided with a longitudinallyextending header pipe 56 supported therefrom by means of clampassemblies 58 and having its outlet end provided with a itting 60coupled to the tting 2,0 for connecting the discharge end of the headerpipe 56 to the rlitting 18. The inlet end portion of the header pipe 56includes a manually 4actuatable lever-type valve assembly referred to ingeneral by the reference numeral 62 and the valve assembly 62 includes adischarge fitting 64 coupled to the inlet end of the header pipe 56 andan inlet fitting 66 to which the outlet end of a llexible liquid supplyhose 68 is connected. Of course, the length of the wand 12 and itscompanion header pipe S6 may be as desired and any type of liquids underpressure may be supplied to the assembly through the supply hose 68 fordischarging from the outlet manifold pipe 40.

A removable cover is illustrated in FIGS. :1 through 4 and referred toin general by the reference numeral 70. The cover 70 is in the shape ofa rectangular envelope including front and rear side walls 72 and 74joined along their corresponding upper and end marginal edge portions.The side wall 72 includes a lower extension 76 which overlies the sideface of the frame 32 outwardly from which the outlet openings 42 openand the lower edge portion of the rear side wall 74 and the lower edgeportion of the extension 76 include coacting tie straps 78 which may betied together in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of thedrawings. In addition, the opposite side edge portions of the extension76 include coacting tie straps 80 which may also be secured together inthe manner illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings in removably securingthe cover 70 over the head 38 and side of the frame 32 to which theoutelt openings 42 open.

The cover 70 is constructed of any suitable soft and flexible materialhaving water absorbent properties and is provided with a soft nap 82 onits outer surfaces. Further, the front side wall 72 of the cover 70includes an opening 77 having a strap 77' secured across its centralportion and the opening 77 is registered with the manifold outlet pipe40 whereby liquids delivered under pressure to the manifold outlet pipe40 may be discharged in jet fashion from the outlet openings 42 withoutpassing through any wall portion of the cover 70.

'It will be noted that the resilient bumper members 44 are covered bythose portions of the front Wall '72 disposed immediately above andbelow the opening 74 and therefore that the bumper members 44 back thefront wall or panel 72 in order that greater pressures may be applied tothe surface being cleaned over which the head 38 and cover 70 are beingpassed, In this manner, the surfaces being cleaned may be lightlyscrubbed by the soft cover 38 without marring the surface.

The cover 70 is made so that it may be readily removed 1Whenever desiredfor cleaning or replacement and the free ends of the legs 36 may bespread apart in order 4 to remove the head 38 after the connectionbetween the inlet 'litting 50 and the iexible pipe or hose 52 has beenreleased.,A

Of course, any suitable cleaning liquids may be supplied to the assembly10 and such cleaning iluids may be in the form of soapy water or cleanwater for cleaning vehicle bodies.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modiiications and changes willreadily occur t0 those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An apparatus for washing vehicles and the like, said apparatuscomprising an elongated handle including a first handle end and a secondhead end, an elongated generally panel-like head supported endwiseoutwardly of said head end of said handle with said head disposedtransverse to said handle and supported therefrom for oscillation aboutan axis extending longitudinally of said head, said head includingelongated liquid manifold means extending therealong includinglongitudinally spaced liquid jet outlet means opening outwardly of oneside face of said head, a soft liquid absorbent cover removably securedover said head, and means operative to communicate the interior of saidliquid manifold means with a source of liquid under pressure, said coverincluding an elongated opening therein with 'which said liquid jetoutlet means are registered and through which jets of liquid supplied tosaid manifold means under pressure may be discharged in jet fashionWithout having to pass through any wall portion of said cover.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the last mentioned means includesa header pipe supported from and extending along said handle with meansadjacent the handle end of the handle for coupling a liquid supply hoseto said header pipe and means, including a lliexible tube section,coupling said header pipe to said manifold means.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said one side face of said headincludes a pair of generally parallel outwardly projecting vrib-likeresilient members generally paralleling said axis and disposed onopposite sides of said liquid jet outlet means, the portions of saidcover disposed on opposite sides of said opening overlying saidresilient members so as to be backed by the latter.

4. The combination of claim 1 including a generally U-shaped framecarried by the head end of said handle and opening endwise outwardly ofthe latter, said head being oscillatably supported between the free endsof the legs of said frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Ames 401-263 LAWRENCE CHARLES,'Primary Examiner

